1 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:07,800 Speaker 1: Ruby. 2 00:00:10,039 --> 00:00:14,000 Speaker 2: When to this world Marco went and this is Amazing Wildlife, 3 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:16,599 Speaker 2: where we explore unique stories of wildlife from around the 4 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:20,799 Speaker 2: world and uncover fascinating animal facts. This podcast is in 5 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:25,160 Speaker 2: production with Iheartradios, Ruby Studio and San Diego Zoo. Wild 6 00:00:25,239 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 2: lef Allions, an international nonprofit conservation organization which oversees the 7 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:32,280 Speaker 2: San Diego Zoo and the Safari Park. 8 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:35,839 Speaker 1: You know, there's a lot of. 9 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:38,479 Speaker 2: Benefits to being a spokesperson for a zoo, Like one 10 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:41,320 Speaker 2: of my favorite things is coming into the zoo the 11 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:44,000 Speaker 2: park in the morning and just it's totally a privilege, 12 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:46,560 Speaker 2: but just being able to walk around areas that maybe 13 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:49,760 Speaker 2: guests can't access or seeing unique things like maybe the 14 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:52,760 Speaker 2: tiger's vocalizing in the morning. So, for instance, I'm still 15 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:54,720 Speaker 2: at the Safari Park. Yeah, and no surprise to all 16 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:58,280 Speaker 2: of you, I haven't left. Last episode, we talked about elephants, 17 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 2: you know, because we have a brand new renovated habitat 18 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:04,880 Speaker 2: that we're going to be featuring earlier next year. And 19 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:07,679 Speaker 2: I find myself in the really unique spot everyone that 20 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:10,640 Speaker 2: you're going to experience once you're here. And again Nick 21 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:14,640 Speaker 2: in the previous episode talked about all those interesting experiences 22 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:16,080 Speaker 2: you're going to have where you're really going to feel 23 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 2: immerse in the hurt. But you know, it's not just mammals, 24 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 2: it's not just birds, it's not animals as well. 25 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:23,200 Speaker 1: It's also the plants. 26 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:25,600 Speaker 2: And in my opinion, it's really the plants that create 27 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:28,880 Speaker 2: that atmosphere, that vibe that I love so much about 28 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 2: the park in the San Diego Zoo. So, you know what, 29 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:33,240 Speaker 2: we're going to be talking all about plant power here 30 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 2: and we have someone super special joining me today. I 31 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 2: think it's the first time we've had to you on 32 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 2: the episode, right an Eagle. 33 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 3: Yes, yes it is. 34 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:40,720 Speaker 1: Oh that's exciting. 35 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:42,680 Speaker 2: Now can you tell me your name and your position 36 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:44,000 Speaker 2: here at the Safari Park. 37 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:45,959 Speaker 3: Yes, I'm Raj Brown. 38 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 4: I'm the director of Horticulture here at the Safari Park 39 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:51,320 Speaker 4: and also the Botanic garden curator. 40 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 1: Oh that's really cool. Now, I know you guys do 41 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 1: so much here at the Safari Park. 42 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 2: Could you give me like just a few little snippets 43 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:01,040 Speaker 2: of like what exactly does the whole culture team do 44 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 2: in this eighteen hundred acre conservation park. 45 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 4: Certainly so, we manage all of the botanical collections and 46 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 4: that's plant material both inside of our wildlife habitats and 47 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 4: out and around the park. And we're an accredited arboretum 48 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 4: and botanic gardens, so we also manage all the collection 49 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 4: information on those plants. 50 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 1: That's a lot to do. 51 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 2: I mean, I've always tell guests everything from specific conservation 52 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 2: examples with plants like maybe the tory pine is an example. 53 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 1: Also food for. 54 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 2: Our animals there were you're here like bamboo for the 55 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 2: giant panda, is right. I use the word vibe because 56 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 2: it's really what I love about the zoo in the 57 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:40,920 Speaker 2: park so much. Is this atmosphere that you and also 58 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:43,080 Speaker 2: the Zoo Order Culture team create for all of us. 59 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:44,880 Speaker 2: So thank you for the time in coming out here. 60 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 2: But you and I am Ego. We're here at the 61 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:50,080 Speaker 2: Elephant Valley renovations that are happening at the moment, so 62 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:52,680 Speaker 2: you might hear some construction sounds, some beeping of trucks, 63 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 2: but we wanted to be here physically to help really 64 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:57,080 Speaker 2: communicate some of the uniqueness. 65 00:02:57,120 --> 00:02:57,240 Speaker 4: Right. 66 00:02:57,280 --> 00:03:01,040 Speaker 2: Because there's something I learned from you, Amigo, about a very. 67 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 1: Fun word called zuki. 68 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 2: Could you tell me exactly what's zuki and what is 69 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 2: its importance here at the Safari Park. 70 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:11,680 Speaker 1: Particularly here in Elephant Valley. 71 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:15,040 Speaker 4: Sure thing, Marco, I think you pointed out that sense 72 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:18,360 Speaker 4: of place that the plants spring about, and in this project, 73 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:21,960 Speaker 4: creating a sense of immersion and an authentic sense of 74 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:24,560 Speaker 4: place was really one of the goals that we had here, 75 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 4: and that's both inside and outside of the habitat. 76 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 3: And so in planning out the planting plan. 77 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:34,600 Speaker 4: Inside of the habitat, we had this goal of let's 78 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:38,040 Speaker 4: get African savannah plants and plants that are safe for 79 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:40,520 Speaker 4: elephants inside of the habitat. 80 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:43,320 Speaker 3: These are all plants that they could consume. 81 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 4: Theoretically, and part of that safety aspect is how do 82 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 4: we get thriving plants inside of a habitat while making 83 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 4: sure our elephants are safe and that biosecurity aspect of 84 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:58,080 Speaker 4: making sure we have soils that are going to create 85 00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:00,840 Speaker 4: thriving conditions for plants, Yeah, but are also going to 86 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 4: be safe for our elephants. And that's where the zuki 87 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:06,040 Speaker 4: that you asked about comes into play. 88 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:06,400 Speaker 1: Yeah. 89 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:08,680 Speaker 2: No, it's super interesting for the kids. It's particular in 90 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:10,760 Speaker 2: case maybe it escapes them a little bit. There's so 91 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:13,080 Speaker 2: much that you have to think about about the dirt, 92 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:16,479 Speaker 2: right every little part of a habitat with an animal. 93 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 2: You all have to really investigate all the little solo 94 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:21,720 Speaker 2: nuances because they can dig into it, they can interact 95 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:23,680 Speaker 2: with these plants or the soil that you use. Right, 96 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 2: So that's part of what, Zuki, why it's so special, 97 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:26,920 Speaker 2: right exactly. 98 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, So, Zuki, what it is is the manure. 99 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:35,799 Speaker 4: Okay okay, right, talking animal poop from herbivores okay, okay, 100 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 4: And we generate a lot of it. So the elephants, 101 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:43,560 Speaker 4: rhinos draft, they generate a lot of poop. 102 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 2: I mean we're almost talking like literally just buckets and 103 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:48,720 Speaker 2: butt truckloads, tons and tons. 104 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 3: Of poop every day, every day, every day. 105 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:54,480 Speaker 4: And so we have a relationship with San Pasqual Soils, 106 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:57,360 Speaker 4: which is located right across the street from us, and 107 00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:02,200 Speaker 4: they are a soil production in company. And so what 108 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:04,440 Speaker 4: we've worked out with them is that we can bring 109 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 4: our manure there and they do a process called hot composting. 110 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:12,080 Speaker 1: Hot composting, hot composting. What's what's that? What's that? 111 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 4: So essentially what that is is it's composting that raises 112 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:22,600 Speaker 4: the temperature of that manure above one hundred and thirty 113 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:27,120 Speaker 4: five degrees for an extended period of time, and that's 114 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:30,760 Speaker 4: like three to five days somewhere in that realm. And 115 00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 4: in doing that hot composting process, it kills off pathogens 116 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:39,160 Speaker 4: that could be problematic for wildlife. 117 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 2: You're saying it like pathogens like little microorganisms with unwanted 118 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 2: things you may not want to reintroduce in a habitat, 119 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 2: is what you're saying exactly. 120 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:50,560 Speaker 4: And so in doing that, we are able to ensure 121 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:55,560 Speaker 4: that harmful pathogens in bacteria are not reintroduced back into 122 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:59,360 Speaker 4: the habitat when we bring the compost back. And so 123 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:02,160 Speaker 4: what we did was we went through this process. We 124 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:06,120 Speaker 4: sent the product zuki off to labs to do both 125 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:10,680 Speaker 4: agronomic testing, which is testing the nutrients in the zukie to. 126 00:06:10,640 --> 00:06:13,480 Speaker 2: Make sure like there's enough basically food right for the plants. 127 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 4: Food for the plants, yeah, nitrogen, all the beneficials that 128 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:19,360 Speaker 4: a plant would need to thrive. But also we sent 129 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 4: it off to a separate lab to look at pathogen 130 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:25,600 Speaker 4: analysis to make sure that we had a product that 131 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:29,040 Speaker 4: would be healthy to go into habitat. And then we 132 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 4: shared that information back with our veterinary wildlife health team 133 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 4: to ensure that this product would be. 134 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:37,359 Speaker 1: Suitable there's so many partners in this. 135 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:40,160 Speaker 2: It's not as simple like I'm thinking like compost at home, right, 136 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:42,520 Speaker 2: you know, like I add a little water, sometimes, add 137 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 2: a little extra stuff, turn it around, and eventually I 138 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:45,920 Speaker 2: get some nice soil for on more plants. 139 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:48,479 Speaker 1: But this is a collaboration one Wildlife Care. 140 00:06:48,520 --> 00:06:50,800 Speaker 2: Right, they're picking up all that delicious animal poop and 141 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:52,839 Speaker 2: by that I mean just nutrient rich for the plant, 142 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:53,280 Speaker 2: not meat. 143 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:54,600 Speaker 1: Don't get icked out, everybody. 144 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:57,720 Speaker 2: But also collaboration with an outside party here in the 145 00:06:57,760 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 2: Sampleskull Valley, which is really great. But also you just 146 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:02,640 Speaker 2: said you're sending it up for a while, so there's 147 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:06,000 Speaker 2: science involved in this mechanism. And you're also double chucking 148 00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:08,400 Speaker 2: which is great with the Wildlife Care health teams to 149 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 2: make sure that everything is copastic. Right, everything is looking good. 150 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 2: You got the green light to introduce the stuff back 151 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:15,160 Speaker 2: into the park grounds. 152 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:18,240 Speaker 4: Right, well said yep, good summary. And you know you 153 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 4: mentioned your backyard compost. The process is similar, Oh it is. Yeah, 154 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:26,760 Speaker 4: So we're still looking at carbon rich materials. Okay, things 155 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 4: like dried leaves hay which are digested by the elephants as. 156 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:33,600 Speaker 3: Part of their diets in comes out exactly. 157 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 4: And then moisture, oh yeah, some water is introduced into 158 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:41,280 Speaker 4: this equation as well, and then aeration turning the piles 159 00:07:41,320 --> 00:07:44,680 Speaker 4: as well, and so that process goes on similar to 160 00:07:44,680 --> 00:07:46,520 Speaker 4: what you would do in your backyard, just on a 161 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 4: larger scale. And then the heat element, which is a 162 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 4: natural process within composting as well. We're just managing it 163 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:57,239 Speaker 4: and monitoring temperatures to make sure we achieve the heat 164 00:07:57,520 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 4: requirements one percent. 165 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 1: Now, can I ask you the zuki? Which I love 166 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:02,680 Speaker 1: the word? By the way, was it you that came 167 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:03,320 Speaker 1: up with that word? 168 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:05,239 Speaker 3: I don't know why they came up. I can't take credit. 169 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:07,440 Speaker 2: Well, kudos to whoever came up with zuki, but I 170 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:09,680 Speaker 2: love the concept. Can I ask you for a zuki 171 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:12,680 Speaker 2: where an elephant valley is going to be applied? 172 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 1: Basically is my question. 173 00:08:14,040 --> 00:08:15,600 Speaker 3: It is throughout the project. 174 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:19,720 Speaker 4: It's the only soil amendment inside of our habitat, So 175 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:24,560 Speaker 4: there is no synthetic fertilizer component inside of habitat at all. 176 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:27,480 Speaker 4: So it's the only soil amendment inside of the habitat. 177 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:29,320 Speaker 1: Home grown here at the sample skull valley. 178 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:29,920 Speaker 3: Right, that's correct. 179 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:33,440 Speaker 4: Yeah, but we've also used it in our planters for 180 00:08:33,520 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 4: trees and shrubs and underneath the sod that's going in 181 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:40,680 Speaker 4: the Mukatano Park area as well, so it is embedded 182 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 4: throughout the project. 183 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:44,160 Speaker 2: Oh wow, that's interesting. I'm sure the guests are going 184 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:46,400 Speaker 2: to be super excited. I know that little nuance with 185 00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 2: then going around, and honestly, when I was waiting for 186 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:50,480 Speaker 2: you Ron to come up here to this spot, I 187 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:52,440 Speaker 2: always got like a big smile on my face when 188 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:55,160 Speaker 2: I'm looking around. It's all the little details that the 189 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:59,439 Speaker 2: horticulture teams do, honestly for that immersion experience. 190 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:00,640 Speaker 1: Right, which I absolutely love. 191 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:03,160 Speaker 2: And there's another store that you had told me about 192 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 2: that I was really interested in. It had the trees. Now, 193 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 2: I love all the shrubbery, the smaller plant species. I'm 194 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 2: a huge fan of trees and growing up here. There 195 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:14,440 Speaker 2: are some trees here that have had relationships with and 196 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:15,960 Speaker 2: by that I mean I've just known them since I 197 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:18,440 Speaker 2: was sixteen. Right, And you were telling me there's something 198 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:21,520 Speaker 2: unique you did with the trees here at Elephant Valley 199 00:09:21,559 --> 00:09:22,679 Speaker 2: that guests may not be aware. 200 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:24,080 Speaker 1: I can you tell me a little bit about that? 201 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:24,880 Speaker 3: Sure? 202 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:29,640 Speaker 4: Yeah, So we did a lot of direct intentional growing 203 00:09:29,679 --> 00:09:33,160 Speaker 4: for this project, but also looking at trees that we 204 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:37,800 Speaker 4: had here on grounds that are no longer available for viewing. 205 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:38,320 Speaker 3: For the guests. 206 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:40,600 Speaker 4: And these are trees like that were on the old 207 00:09:40,640 --> 00:09:44,480 Speaker 4: monorail path that were part of the guest experience fifty 208 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:47,480 Speaker 4: years ago, fifty years ago, but are now no longer 209 00:09:47,640 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 4: guest bacing. And so we looked at what trees really 210 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:57,600 Speaker 4: fit this Savannah Africa immersive experience and really are magnificent 211 00:09:57,800 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 4: trees though, yeah, guests don't get. 212 00:09:59,840 --> 00:10:02,120 Speaker 1: To appreciate, no, totally, yeah. 213 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 4: And so we identified those trees and we relocated many 214 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:10,160 Speaker 4: of those trees into this project so that the project 215 00:10:10,240 --> 00:10:14,320 Speaker 4: really has this feeling that it's been here, that it's mature. 216 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:18,880 Speaker 4: The shade that you experienced between the elephant habitats is 217 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:21,560 Speaker 4: from trees that some have been at the Safari Park 218 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:25,959 Speaker 4: for fifty years. But in doing that, you know, relocation, 219 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:31,600 Speaker 4: it was definitely a prolonged effort of research and development 220 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:34,440 Speaker 4: of our own practices of how do we relocate some 221 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:38,120 Speaker 4: of these trees that are not really found in southern California, 222 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:41,520 Speaker 4: So the best practices don't necessarily existe. 223 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:43,000 Speaker 2: So you're saying, like you and the team they're trying 224 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 2: to figure it out here in the Safari Park. You 225 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 2: can't really go to other resources at the moment. You 226 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:48,839 Speaker 2: got to kind of make it up as you go 227 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:49,840 Speaker 2: in a way, right. 228 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:50,480 Speaker 3: A little bit of that. 229 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:53,160 Speaker 4: Yeah, So it's looking at trying to find anecdotes, right, 230 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 4: like things that are done professionally that we have experienced 231 00:10:56,360 --> 00:10:59,839 Speaker 4: with and adapting those to the specific species we have here. 232 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:01,120 Speaker 1: Part Oh wow. 233 00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 2: I mean there's so many plant stories that I love 234 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 2: about Elephant Valley. 235 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:04,200 Speaker 4: One. 236 00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:06,719 Speaker 2: I love when you were mentioning certain trees and shrubbery 237 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:09,280 Speaker 2: that guests can experience in the past, you know, because 238 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:12,040 Speaker 2: maybe they were a trail like the old monorail paths. 239 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 2: To your point, there's these they're sort of like an 240 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:16,400 Speaker 2: aloe tree. Forgive me if I don't know the species, 241 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:18,520 Speaker 2: but I grew up with those trees that were at Benbo, 242 00:11:18,679 --> 00:11:21,320 Speaker 2: So I'm really happy that they're here as well. But 243 00:11:21,480 --> 00:11:24,240 Speaker 2: not only that, I'm going to use this term upcycling right, 244 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:27,880 Speaker 2: that we're using our resources, our teams, our ingenuity to 245 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:29,200 Speaker 2: create these experiences. 246 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:31,800 Speaker 1: But there was some I'm calling it the force field. 247 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:33,680 Speaker 1: You know what I'm talking about, the forest field. 248 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 2: Tell me about what I call the force field here 249 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:37,880 Speaker 2: at the Elephant Valley because that was a really cool story. 250 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:41,880 Speaker 4: Yes, so I think you're referring to a product that 251 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:45,480 Speaker 4: we use to create a structural soil system. 252 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:47,680 Speaker 3: The product name is called a silver cell. 253 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:48,839 Speaker 1: A silver cell, okay. 254 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:50,120 Speaker 3: But essentially the. 255 00:11:50,080 --> 00:11:53,480 Speaker 4: Way that we use this is we moved some trees 256 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:56,640 Speaker 4: that are decades old. They've been living here thirty to 257 00:11:56,679 --> 00:12:00,720 Speaker 4: fifty years, and we put them into areas where there 258 00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:05,839 Speaker 4: are guest pathways that circumnavigate the whole tree root zone. 259 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:06,560 Speaker 1: Okay. 260 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 4: And these are pathways that are concrete, and they're in 261 00:12:10,360 --> 00:12:13,880 Speaker 4: areas that aren't ideal for a tree. So developing within 262 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:17,920 Speaker 4: a tree's critical root zone is definitely not something you 263 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:21,480 Speaker 4: want to do because it can hurt the tree. And 264 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:24,360 Speaker 4: so not only are we relocating the tree, but also 265 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:28,440 Speaker 4: planning out pathways underneath the trees. And so in order 266 00:12:28,520 --> 00:12:31,920 Speaker 4: to achieve this successful relocation of these trees, we looked 267 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:36,240 Speaker 4: into this product called silver cells, which allows us to 268 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:42,400 Speaker 4: build a concrete pathway by cantily bringing it out over 269 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:47,120 Speaker 4: the root zone, rather than directly constructing within the root 270 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:51,120 Speaker 4: zone and disturbing the roots. We floated our concrete pathways 271 00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:56,880 Speaker 4: over the root zone to provide oxygen, water, and access 272 00:12:56,920 --> 00:13:01,600 Speaker 4: to nutrients for the tree without disrupting its critical read sound. 273 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:04,600 Speaker 2: Oh man, that's for speedy, That's what's gonna say. It 274 00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:06,680 Speaker 2: made me smile so much when you were saying that one, 275 00:13:06,760 --> 00:13:08,920 Speaker 2: you know, because I think people just kind of forget 276 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:10,960 Speaker 2: about just how amazing you guys are on the plant 277 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:13,920 Speaker 2: team and honestly the ingenuity and what you do for 278 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:16,120 Speaker 2: the vibrancy of the health and here at the Alliance, 279 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:17,280 Speaker 2: you know, it's not just the health of. 280 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:19,160 Speaker 1: A polar bear or a platypust. 281 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:21,920 Speaker 2: We're also incorporating our plants, which is really vital. So 282 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 2: that was really wicked and thank you for sharing that, 283 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:27,199 Speaker 2: because I think most guests when they navigate through here, 284 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:30,280 Speaker 2: that new and improved Elephant Valley, they won't know that, 285 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:31,760 Speaker 2: you know, and I'm sure you and I were making 286 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:34,240 Speaker 2: jokes and plants specialists, I'm sure might look at this 287 00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:36,160 Speaker 2: structure like, hey, what's going on with that tree? 288 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:38,560 Speaker 1: But now they know right that you had this new 289 00:13:38,600 --> 00:13:39,439 Speaker 1: and improved structure. 290 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:41,760 Speaker 4: We're out there exactly, Yeah, And I think the goal 291 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:44,720 Speaker 4: is that you would never know it. You feel like 292 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:47,400 Speaker 4: you're out in the wilds and you're interacting with elephants 293 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 4: and its seamless. 294 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 1: Oh no, I love that friend, you know. Can I 295 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:52,520 Speaker 1: ask you what are some of your favorites? 296 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:54,320 Speaker 2: You know, because I always like to ask people either 297 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:58,600 Speaker 2: a favorite animal, favorite location. You representing the horticulture team, 298 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:01,000 Speaker 2: do you have a particular lux an area that you 299 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:04,559 Speaker 2: just absolutely love that you want to bring up? For instance, 300 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:08,360 Speaker 2: front for me the zoo, it's Fern Canyon, my favorite 301 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:11,400 Speaker 2: spot for Safari Park. I gotta throw some love at 302 00:14:11,400 --> 00:14:13,960 Speaker 2: the Baja Gardens, Like there's a bench right there overlooking 303 00:14:14,040 --> 00:14:17,600 Speaker 2: Australian condoor ridge that I love so much. 304 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:19,960 Speaker 1: Do you have a particular favorite spot at the park? 305 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 4: I have a number of favorite spots. I think up 306 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:26,120 Speaker 4: towards the top of the park. Baja Old World Succulents 307 00:14:26,280 --> 00:14:30,359 Speaker 4: just have beautiful plants and vistas of the entire valley. 308 00:14:30,920 --> 00:14:33,640 Speaker 4: Walk About Australia is one of my favorites as well. 309 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:37,520 Speaker 4: I've spent a year in college in Australia. Oh so 310 00:14:38,320 --> 00:14:42,040 Speaker 4: just that feeling of transportation that you get in walk 311 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:43,920 Speaker 4: about Australia is awesome. 312 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:45,080 Speaker 1: Oh no, I've bet. 313 00:14:45,120 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 4: And then I think down in the we call it 314 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:52,440 Speaker 4: the Lower Village African Woods area, that walk below, Oh copies. 315 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:56,000 Speaker 2: Oh, that stream and those flowers are all that exactly. 316 00:14:56,040 --> 00:14:57,280 Speaker 3: That's fantastic for me. 317 00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:00,480 Speaker 4: It's just walking beneath the thorn trees and it's very 318 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:03,760 Speaker 4: peaceful and just a really nice place. 319 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:05,080 Speaker 3: Oh I love the water. 320 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:06,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's great. 321 00:15:06,600 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 2: This is another question that I really love to ask 322 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:11,560 Speaker 2: people because everyone's like origin stories are very different. 323 00:15:11,640 --> 00:15:13,840 Speaker 1: Can I ask you like, did you always have a 324 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:14,680 Speaker 1: green thumb of ego? 325 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:16,960 Speaker 2: I mean I never did, and I'm getting better at it, 326 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:19,880 Speaker 2: but we're always like passionate about plant life. Was there 327 00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:21,880 Speaker 2: a little ros like with a bucket and some soil, 328 00:15:21,960 --> 00:15:23,080 Speaker 2: you know, digging up some plants? 329 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:24,520 Speaker 1: So how did this get about for you? 330 00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:29,240 Speaker 4: That's a good question. I think it emerged as a child. 331 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:34,960 Speaker 4: My family bought a walnut orchard in the Central Valley 332 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:37,000 Speaker 4: when I was a kid, really, and it was a 333 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:41,120 Speaker 4: walnut orchard that wasn't a productive orchard. The trees had 334 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:44,760 Speaker 4: a black line disease, so they were dying. But it 335 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:49,760 Speaker 4: was that process of working with my dad and figuring out, well, 336 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:51,640 Speaker 4: what are we going to do with this land. We're 337 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:56,520 Speaker 4: removing trees, yeah, we're figuring out what trees are salvageable. 338 00:15:57,680 --> 00:15:59,920 Speaker 4: How do we want this place to look and feel 339 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:04,160 Speaker 4: and perform over time? And I think that creative process 340 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:06,920 Speaker 4: and just working with plants is what led me eventually 341 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:09,360 Speaker 4: towards becoming a landscape architecture. Ah. 342 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:10,680 Speaker 1: Man, I love that story. 343 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:13,880 Speaker 2: It's Papa inspiration, your parents, see right, so you kids 344 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:16,040 Speaker 2: sat there. Sometimes you can get inspirations just from your 345 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:17,640 Speaker 2: family alone, which is amazing. 346 00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:20,240 Speaker 3: Yeah. Definitely hopping on the tractor as a kid with 347 00:16:20,320 --> 00:16:20,680 Speaker 3: my dad. 348 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:21,000 Speaker 4: Yeah. 349 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:22,880 Speaker 1: Oh, I love that rows. That's great. 350 00:16:22,920 --> 00:16:25,280 Speaker 2: Can I ask you before we finish this interview here, 351 00:16:25,520 --> 00:16:28,359 Speaker 2: is there something you want to brag about or recommend 352 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:31,000 Speaker 2: for our listeners when they come to Elephant Valley when 353 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:34,120 Speaker 2: reopen earlier next year, And a little thing that you're 354 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:35,720 Speaker 2: proud about that you want people to be aware of. 355 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:37,120 Speaker 3: I mean, there's so much. 356 00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:39,760 Speaker 4: I think the team has worked really hard on this 357 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:43,240 Speaker 4: project for the past six plus years. There's been intention 358 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:49,080 Speaker 4: around dedicated growing of plants from seed for over six 359 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:54,200 Speaker 4: years for this project, and also this identification of trees 360 00:16:54,360 --> 00:16:57,640 Speaker 4: and specimens succulents that are on grounds that have been 361 00:16:57,640 --> 00:17:00,600 Speaker 4: here for decades and then figuring out how to move 362 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:03,280 Speaker 4: them and allow them to thrive in their new environment. 363 00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:07,080 Speaker 4: So I think that karen attention to detail. Is this 364 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:10,600 Speaker 4: something that I'm proud of, and it's throughout this project 365 00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:13,080 Speaker 4: and involved so many people. 366 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:14,040 Speaker 1: Yeah right, you know. 367 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:18,080 Speaker 4: Yeah, and then there's story is embedded throughout that, you know, 368 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:20,400 Speaker 4: I'm happy to share if you come out and check 369 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:22,920 Speaker 4: it out. Okay, you know, there's a lot of cool 370 00:17:22,960 --> 00:17:25,399 Speaker 4: things to see, a lot of great psychads and thorn 371 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:28,760 Speaker 4: trees and caglias, just beautiful trees. 372 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:30,560 Speaker 1: Oh friend, no, thank you. That was great. 373 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:33,520 Speaker 2: And again, I hope when you get the experience of 374 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:35,879 Speaker 2: coming to Elephant Valley listeners, you can come and not 375 00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:40,040 Speaker 2: only appreciate this beautiful herd of African savannah elephants, but 376 00:17:40,119 --> 00:17:43,000 Speaker 2: please hit a moment look up and appreciate those trees. 377 00:17:43,119 --> 00:17:43,239 Speaker 1: Right. 378 00:17:43,359 --> 00:17:45,600 Speaker 2: Remind the root system is going on, all the little 379 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:48,280 Speaker 2: subtle nuances that plants and also the not so subtle 380 00:17:48,280 --> 00:17:51,960 Speaker 2: things that positive things that plants offer here at Elephant Valley. So, Roz, 381 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:53,240 Speaker 2: that was great, Thank you so much. Give me some 382 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:54,160 Speaker 2: plant knuckles a ego. 383 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:55,360 Speaker 1: That was so thanks. 384 00:17:55,359 --> 00:18:00,240 Speaker 4: Thank you, Margo, Yeah, thank you. 385 00:18:01,560 --> 00:18:04,159 Speaker 2: I love my job. I'm learning so much every single 386 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:06,800 Speaker 2: day now. That was super interesting. And I know I'm 387 00:18:06,840 --> 00:18:10,480 Speaker 2: gonna be looking at Elephant Valley in a completely different light. 388 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 1: So you're cruising around the zoo and the Safari. 389 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:15,320 Speaker 2: Park, you see those planning themes knee deep and dirt, 390 00:18:15,560 --> 00:18:18,080 Speaker 2: maybe turning up some browse for animals some food. Make 391 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:19,679 Speaker 2: sure you give them a big old thank you and 392 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:22,440 Speaker 2: a big thumbs up for all the incredible work. 393 00:18:22,240 --> 00:18:22,720 Speaker 1: That they do. 394 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:25,719 Speaker 2: Now, friends at word highlighting so much going on in 395 00:18:25,760 --> 00:18:28,280 Speaker 2: Africa from the elephant herds, where plants here at the 396 00:18:28,280 --> 00:18:30,840 Speaker 2: Safari Park. But you know there's some other very unique 397 00:18:30,840 --> 00:18:33,080 Speaker 2: species here in Africa that I wanted to highl out. 398 00:18:33,119 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 2: So stay tuned for more adventures here at the San 399 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:37,000 Speaker 2: Diego Zoo or Safari Park. 400 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:42,280 Speaker 1: Now Marco went Stay wild. 401 00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:50,360 Speaker 2: For more information about the San Diego Zoo and San 402 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:55,280 Speaker 2: Diego Zoo Safari Park, go to SDZWA dot org. Amazing 403 00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:59,200 Speaker 2: Wildlife is a production of iHeartRadio. Our supervising producer is 404 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:02,119 Speaker 2: still in Fagan, and our sound designers are Sierra Spring 405 00:19:02,280 --> 00:19:05,520 Speaker 2: and Matt Russell. For more shows from iHeartRadio, check out 406 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:09,240 Speaker 2: the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to 407 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:19,400 Speaker 2: your favorite shows.